Tuesday May 7, 2019

Your Money cash flow halted: Nine and News Corp close TV channel

Nine CEO Hugh Marks and Australian News Channel CEO Paul Whittaker said the partners had made the closure decision as the revenue model had proved more difficult than anticipated, and that it failed to meet expectations.

In a joint statement, Marks and Whittaker said: “We have enjoyed a strong partnership with this joint venture but unfortunately we are unable to maintain its continuing operation. Market and technical circumstances have proved too challenging. Our thanks to the Your Money team – the quality of the people who brought this channel to life is extraordinary and they have given it their utmost commitment and professionalism.”

Your Money CEO Kylie Merritt said : “I am proud of what we achieved and I thank every member of the team for the work they did, the stories they told and their incredible devotion to the project.”

Where possible the joint venture partners will seek to redeploy staff within their respective businesses.

Your Money, which commenced on air on subscription TV (Foxtel Channel 601) and FTA TV (Nine digital channel 95) on October 1, 2018, will cease broadcasting on Friday, May 17, 2019.

Rockers outrank royalty: How music put the monarch in the shade

It didn’t create many headlines, but there was a major change on the ARIA Albums chart that was released on the weekend.

What was noticed was that P!nk has the new #1 album on a chart flooded with new releases. Six of the top 11 rankings on the chart belonged to new albums.

Making way for the new music was one of the most successful rock acts ever – Queen. The band has had three albums in the top 10 since early November 2018. Some weeks those albums were top five.

That chart activity over the past six months was linked to the release of the movie Bohemian Rhapsody, which has triggered a massive celebration of their classic rock anthems.

That soundtrack album debuted in the top 10 in October, and the former #1 album remains their best performing entry on the ARIA Albums chart, now at #14 in its first week outside the top 10 in 28 weeks.

The stunning chart performance comes as the UK rockers reach another significant milestone.

The Sunday Times Rich List, to be released this coming weekend, has calculated the three surviving members of the band – two of whom who will be touring Australia in 2020 to add to their coffers – are now collectively worth UK£445m, more than the British Commonwealth’s real Queen.

In fact Queen Elizabeth’s wealth has flatlined at UK£370m.

Queen band members Brian May and Roger Taylor were consultants on the Bohemian Rhapsody movie, which is close to a global gross of US$1b, that helped trigger huge increases in back catalogue sales as well as shifting huge amounts of the soundtrack.

The Sunday Times values May at UK£160m (+ £25m this year) and Taylor at UK£155m (+ £25m this year).

Even the silent member of Queen, bass player John Deacon who no longer plays live with the band, is still coining it, with a fortune valued at UK£130m, enough to put him back on The Sunday Times list for the first time since 2006.

Magazine guru joins the board of leading women’s fashion group

Former Pacific Magazine publisher and editor Jackie Frank has been appointed to the board of a major Australian women’s retailer.

Noni B Group recently announced the appointment of Frank as a non-executive director of the company with immediate effect.

Frank is one of Australia’s most experienced publishing executives with a background and understanding of the retail and fashion sector.

The inaugural editor of Australian marie claire magazine, Frank was general manager of Pacific Magazines overseeing the fashion, beauty, health and custom sections for one of the country’s largest publishing divisions before stepping down last year.

Chairman of Noni B Richard Facioni said, “We’re very pleased and fortunate to welcome Jackie to the board of Noni B. Her knowledge and experience, particularly her understanding of our customer, will be invaluable as we continue to grow Noni B to becoming one of the pre-eminent women’s apparel retailers in Australia.”

Throughout her career, Frank has been a strong advocate for equal rights in the workplace and has been committed to making a difference to the lives of Australian women through her involvement in a number of organisations and campaigns.

“I have hardly placed two feet on the ground, but I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Frank told Mediaweek recently about life since leaving the publishing business.

She launched her B Frank Group late last year with Seed a foundation client. The business continues to be Seed’s creative agency and next week work starts on shooting the new campaigns for Seed’s range of women and children’s wear.

Fank also joined the board of Executive Health Solutions (EHS) with David Baffsky, Ian Ferrier and John Eales. EHS delivers professional and comprehensive health programs and assessments that offer real benefits to companies and individuals.

B Frank Group is also developing an e-commerce site for a fashion brand that wants to launch a beauty vertical.

Warwick Thornton wins major award at Directors’ Guild Awards

The Australian Directors’ Guild Awards took place in Sydney on Monday evening and Warwick Thornton took out the top prize of Best Direction in a Feature Film (budget $1 million or over) for Sweet Country, beating stiff competition from previous winner Garth Davis (Mary Magdalene), Anthony Maras (Hotel Mumbai) and Joel Edgerton (Boy Erased).

The ADG Awards took place at the City Recital Hall and presenters included Rachel Griffiths, Rachel Ward, Bryan Brown and Claudia Karvan.

Other winners included Paul Damien Williams who won Best Direction in a Documentary Feature for Gurrumul, Rachel Perkins who won Best Direction in a TV or SVOD Drama Series episode for Mystery Road and Jeffrey Walker who won Best Direction in a TV or SVOD Mini Series and Telefeature for Riot.

This year marks the first time that the Best Feature Film category has been divided into two sections – one for films with budgets of $1 million and over and the second for Best Direction in a Feature Film with a budget under $1 million. Dustin Feneley won Best Direction in a Feature Film (Budget under $1M) for his film Stray.

Cian O’Clery won the Best Direction in a Documentary Series award for his work on Series 1, Episode 1 of Employable Me and AlyssaMcClelland won Best Direction in a Short Film for Second Best.

Other winners included Scott Major for Best Direction in a TV or SVOD Drama Serial episode for his work on Episode 7776A of Neighbours and Best Direction in a Children’s TV or SVOD Drama Program went to Nicholas Verso for Grace Beside Me (Series 1, Episode 4).

The Award for Best Direction in a TV or SVOD Comedy Program episode was presented to Colin Cairnes for True Story with Hamish and Andy (Episode Lisa).

COMPLETE LIST OF THE 2019 WINNERS

Best Direction in a Feature Film (Budget $1M or over)Warwick Thornton for Sweet Country

Best Direction in a Feature Film (Budget under $1M)Dustin Feneley for Stray

Best Direction in a Short FilmAlyssa McClelland for Second Best

Best Direction in a Student FilmSimon Direen for A Life Together

Best Direction in a Documentary FeaturePaul Damien Williams for Gurrumul

Best Direction in a TV or SVOD Drama Series episodeRachel Perkins for Mystery Road (Series 1)

Best Direction in a TV or SVOD Drama Serial episodeScott Major for Neighbours (Episode 7776A)

Best Direction in a TV or SVOD Mini Series and TelefeatureJeffrey Walker for Riot

Best Direction in a TV or SVOD Comedy Program episodeColin Cairnes for True Story with Hamish & Andy (Episode “Lisa”)

Best Direction in a Online Drama SeriesBillie Pleffer for Deadlock

Best Direction in a Online Comedy SeriesZoe Pepper for The Big Spaghetti

Best Direction in an Animation ProjectAndrew Goldsmith and Bradley Slabe for Lost & Found

Best Direction in Commercial ContentNicholas Carlton for I Am Mehreen Faruqi (The Australian Greens)

Best Direction in a Commercial AdvertisementTim Bullock for Armoured Truck (Lotto NZ)

Best Direction in a Music VideoKate Halpin for Sympathy (Artist: Iluka)

Best Direction in an Interactive or Immersive TitleLynette Wallworth for Awavena

Box Office: How far can Avengers: Endgame climb?

Avengers: Endgame had a historic opening week with the Motion Pictures Distributors Association of Australia reporting on Thursday that the movie ended its first week with $50.13m – cruising past Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Endgame is now number three on the all-time Australian box office list pushing aside Avengers: Infinity War ($62.01m) in total revenue in only two weeks after bringing its total to $65.80m at the conclusion of the weekend.

But after a 60% decline will it have the legs to get to #1 or even #2? Currently ahead of Endgame in total Australian box office is Star Wars: Force Awakens which made $94.03m, and Avatar on $115.76m.

For comparison Avengers: Infinity War declined 52% in its second weekend and ended up lasting eight weeks in the top five. To get the #1 spot Endgame will need another $50m, so it will be hoping to have long legs since it still has a fair way to climb.

While all other action movies were swept to the wayside this weekend in the wake of Avengers, it was a good opportunity for romcoms and family-friendly flicks which filled out the rest of the top five. This included three new entries Top End Wedding, Long Shot, and Peppa Pig: Festival of Fun.

Overall the Australian box office generated $17.73m in revenue which was a 54% decline on last weekend but is still a marketable improvement on the $11.96m that was made the weekend before Endgame.

#1 Avengers Endgame $13.62m

Comfortably holding top spot again after a record-breaking debut last week it is already the most successful Marvel movie in Australian history. The Disney blockbuster averaged a tremendous $13,102 after being screened on 1,040 screens, which is its second week in a row being on over 1,000 screens.

#2 Top End Wedding $1.10m

A very solid debut for a local film, being the only other movie to crack the $1m threshold this weekend. The Aussie rom-com made an average of $3,840 on 287 screens.

#3 Long Shot $820,418

Another romantic comedy makes its debut in the top five this week this one featuring Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron. The reverse Pretty Woman opened to an average of $3,282 on 250 screens.

#4 Peppa Pig: Festival of Fun $357,577

The family-friendly romp averaged $1,561 on 229 during its first week in theatres.

#5 Dumbo $211,208

The marathon runner of the group, the re-imagining of a Disney classic ranks in the top five for the sixth consecutive week despite a 69% decline. It averaged $1,154 on 183 screens, bringing its overall total to $11.86m.

TV Demand Charts: GoT raises the bar again with 20.27m

As Game of Thrones comes to an end it refuses to slow down after airing the third episode of it’s eighth and final season The Long Night which featured the Battle of Winterfell with the White Walkers.

Culminating an arc that was established in the first scene of the series has helped the show reach even loftier heights generating a ginormous 20.27m (Aus) demand expressions to sit atop the Overall TV charts. This cruises past the previous high for the year of 18.18m, by who else but Game of Thrones.

GoT has not relinquished its grip on the top spot of the Overall TV chart since the calendar flipped over to February and in that time has recorded four average demand expression scores* over 10m, while no show this year has gotten over 4m once. The show also retained top spot in NZ with 2.83m, an increase of over 600k.

Cobra Kai occupies top spot on the Digital Originals chart in both Aus and NZ, with this being the first time in NZ after featuring at #1 in Aus for the first time last week. The series features the original antagonist Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), seeking redemption by reopening the infamous Cobra Kai karate dojo, reigniting his rivalry with a now successful Daniel LaRusso played by the original Karate Kid Ralph Macchio.

The big mover this week in the Digital Originals charts is The Handmaid’s Tale starring Elisabeth Moss which returns to both the Aus and NZ charts in fifth spot. This was assisted by the release of the trailer for The 13-episode third season which will premiere on SBS with a double-episode season premiere at 8.30pm, Thursday, June 6. The show that drops off the chart in Aus is Stranger Things, while the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina loses its spot in NZ.

While in the Overall TV charts the biggest movement was by The 100, off the back of its season six premier which sees it enter the charts at #5 in Aus and #4 in NZ. The other show of note was Riverdale entering the Overall TV chart for Australia at #8 after airing its first episode without Luke Perry.

* Demand Expressions represent the total audience demand being expressed for a title, within a country, on any platform. The audience demand is a weighted, country-specific measure of demand. Television demand data captures what content people want in a particular country.

Breakfast TV

Seven

Home And Away was on 679,000 after a week 18 average audience of 660,000 which was up week-on-week from 628,000.

The second Monday episode of House Rules saw the home owners pass judgement. The episode did 640,000, which was up from 561,000 from a week ago when it went head-to-head with the MasterChef launch.

An episode of 9-1-1 followed on 462,000.

Nine

A report on an epic Sharia court custody battle led A Current Affair, which was on 810,000. In week 17 ACA averaged 724,000, up on the previous week’s 698,000.

As its passes the halfway mark, the audience fascination with Lego Masters continues with another 1m+ audience. Week-on-week the Monday audience dropped marginally from 1.05m to 1.02m.

The second episode of 20 To One did 459,000 after launching with 455,000.

10

After launching with 715,000 a week ago, the second Monday of MasterChef did 607,000.

Earlier in the night The Project 7pm was on 429,000. Its week 17 average was 442,000, up from 427,000 previously.

On the last Monday without Have You Been Paying Attention?, a Montreal Comedy Festival special was in that timeslot and did 241,000.

ABC

Australian Story was introduced by Mal Leyland and the episode told the story of 21-year-old Menindee farmer Kate McBride who came across thousands of dying fish in her beloved Darling River and was determined to tell the country what was happening. The episode was on 642,000 after 518,000 a week ago.

Four Corners then did 581,000, up from 442,000 last week with a report on universities and the booming international students business.

Media Watch was on 539,000.

Bill Shorten was the guest on Q&A with the audience up from 361,000 to 481,000 week-on-week. Will Scott Morrison end his ban on the show and make headlines by a last-minute decision to enter the realm of Tony Jones?

SBS

Trust Me I’m A Doctor was on 181,000, while Great American Railroad Journeys preceded it on 172,000.

Week 19 TV: Monday

MONDAY METRO

ABC

Seven

Nine

10

SBS

ABC

16.1%

7

20.1%

9

21.5%

10

10.3%

SBS One

4.7%

ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY

2.5%

7TWO

3.5%

GO!

2.0%

10 Bold

3.5%

VICELAND

1.1%

ABC ME

0.6%

7mate

3.0%

GEM

3.0%

10 Peach

1.9%

Food Net

1.0%

ABC NEWS

1.0%

7flix

1.7%

9Life

1.7%

NITV

0.3%

7Food

0.5%

TOTAL

20.1%

28.8%

28.2%

15.8%

7.1%

MONDAY REGIONAL

ABC

Seven Affiliates

Nine Affiliates

10 Affiliates

SBS

ABC

13.7%

7

20.8%

9

16.9%

WIN

9.2%

SBS One

3.9%

ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY

2.5%

7TWO

5.2%

GO!

2.7%

WIN Bold

3.9%

VICELAND

1.3%

ABC ME

0.9%

7mate

4.4%

GEM

5.2%

WIN Peach

2.0%

Food Net

0.9%

ABC NEWS

1.2%

7flix (Excl. Tas/WA)

1.3%

9Life

1.7%

Sky News on WIN

1.5%

NITV

0.3%

7food (QLD only)

0.6%

TOTAL

18.3%

32.3%

26.5%

16.5%

6.4%

MONDAY METRO ALL TV

FTA

STV

86.0%

14.0%

Monday FTA

Seven News Seven 1,082,000

Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 1,055,000

Lego Masters Nine 1,022,000

Nine News Nine 987,000

Nine News 6:30 Nine 983,000

A Current Affair Nine 810,000

ABC News ABC 751,000

Home And Away Seven 679,000

Australian Story ABC 642,000

House Rules Seven 640,000

7.30 ABC 636,000

The Chase Australia Seven 634,000

Masterchef Australia Mon 10 607,000

Four Corners ABC 581,000

Hot Seat Nine 543,000

Media Watch ABC 539,000

Q&A-Le ABC 481,000

9-1-1 Seven 462,000

20 To One Nine 459,000

10 News First 10 455,000

Demo Top 5

16-39 Top Five

Lego Masters Nine 293,000

Masterchef Australia 10 168,000

20 To One Nine 129,000

Nine News 6:30 Nine 129,000

Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 124,000

18-49 Top Five

Lego Masters Nine 491,000

Masterchef Australia 10 270,000

Nine News Nine 248,000

Nine News 6:30 Nine 247,000

Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 232,000

25-54 Top Five

Lego Masters Nine 521,000

Nine News 6:30 Nine 311,000

Nine News Nine 303,000

Masterchef Australia 10 294,000

Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 268,000

Monday Multichannel

Bluey AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 186,000

Peppa Pig PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 157,000

School Of Roars PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 157,000

Molly And Mack PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 157,000

Peter Rabbit ABCKIDS/COMEDY 155,000

Floogals ABCKIDS/COMEDY 152,000

Bondi Rescue Ep 2 (R) 10 Bold 145,000

Octonauts ABCKIDS/COMEDY 145,000

Dino Dana ABCKIDS/COMEDY 145,000

PJ Masks AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 144,000

Nella The Princess Knight AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 141,000

Lewis PM 7TWO 139,000

Rusty Rivets ABCKIDS/COMEDY 139,000

Peppa Pig AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 137,000

Fireman Sam PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 131,000

Spicks And Specks ABCKIDS/COMEDY 130,000

Hey Duggee AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 127,000

The Vicar Of Dibley-Ep.2 Pm 7TWO 125,000

NCIS (R) 10 Bold 123,000

Olobob Top AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 122,000

Monday STV

Game Of Thrones FOX SHOWCASE 287,000

Game Of Thrones FOX SHOWCASE 208,000

Game Of Thrones FOX SHOWCASE 169,000

Game Of Thrones FOX SHOWCASE 83,000

Game Of Thrones FOX SHOWCASE 80,000

Live: AFL 360 FOX FOOTY 80,000

Game Of Thrones FOX SHOWCASE 71,000

The Bolt Report Sky News Live 71,000

Paul Murray Live Sky News Live 68,000

Live: On The Couch FOX FOOTY 64,000

Kenny On Media Sky News Live 55,000

Credlin Sky News Live 51,000

Live: NRL 360 FOX LEAGUE 51,000

Thrones 360: Live FOX SHOWCAS E 43,000

PML Later Sky News Live 41,000

Last Week Tonight With John Oliver COMEDY CHANNEL 41,000

Family Guy FOX8 40,000

Game Of Thrones FOX SHOWCASE 36,000

Big League Wrap FOX LEAGUE 36,000

Family Guy FOX8 32,000

Shares all people, 6pm-midnight, Overnight (Live and AsLive), Audience numbers FTA metro, Sub TV nationalSource: OzTAM and Regional TAM 2018. The Data may not be reproduced, published or communicated (electronically or in hard copy) without the prior written consent of OzTAM

Media News Roundup

Business of Media

ABC cuts ‘inevitable’ if Coalition returns to power, new MD warns

The ABC is facing “inevitable” job cuts and programming disruption if the Morrison government is returned to power, the national broadcaster’s new managing director has warned, reports The Sydney Morning Herald’s Jenny Noyes.

In his first interview in the new job, David Anderson told Radio National’s Patricia Karvelas that planning for two possible budget scenarios was at the top of his to-do list, after establishing a new leadership team.

One of those options is a budget in which the ABC’s indexation funding is frozen for the next three years.

“If the Coalition is returned, then we have an $84 million budget reduction over the next three years,” Anderson said.

Pressed on what those cuts might look like, Anderson refused to “speculate” beyond confirming that all options under consideration would involve staff and services.

Labor has promised to reverse the pause on indexation, which Anderson said “is obviously a much better scenario for us”; but he would still be looking for efficiencies “to bridge the gap between indexation and what it costs to be the ABC”.

CEO Lang had a little more detail for investors at the half-year results in February:

“We have seen a contraction, below prior year period, of advertising spends in the December, January and February months and a shortening of booking cycles. Whilst we are now seeing more positive signs for March to June revenues, it is extremely difficult to forecast the impacts of the NSW election in March and the expected federal election in May, a subdued housing market, and variable business and consumer confidence.

“Our HY 2019 earnings (underlying EBITDA) were 4.9% below the prior year result driven by a 0.4% decline in revenue and a 1% increase in costs. We maintain a very high focus on cost saving and efficiency opportunities in order to consistently deliver a strong return to our shareholders in this fiscal year.

“Based on current forward estimates and given the outlook for the radio advertising market, we expect our underlying FY 2019 EBITDA to be in the range of $29 – $32 million.”

A fourth major Macquarie Media challenge is almost sitting on the back burner given the importance of the Jones, Hadley and revenue problems – what to do with its other AM licences currently trading as Macquarie Sports Radio. As Mediaweek noted after the results of survey two were released last week, the stations are reporting near record low ratings for the licences that used to be branded Magic 1278, 2UE and 4BH Magic 882.

At the February results, Lang said:

“Our Macquarie Sports Radio network was launched in April 2018 and has been refined throughout the year. We are pleased with the development of the format to date and confident that our audience and revenue will continue to grow as we head into the football season.”

News Brands

The Daily Telegraph launches appeal in Geoffrey Rush defamation case

The Daily Telegraph has claimed a Federal Court judge was biased, and his awarding of $850,000 in damages to Geoffrey Rush was “excessive”, as it launched an appeal against the Oscar winner’s recent defamation victory, reports The Australian’s Rosemary Neill.

In a notice of appeal filed with the Federal Court yesterday, Nationwide News, publisher of the Telegraph and The Australian, lists 16 grounds for appeal, including that the defamation trial heard by judge MichaelWigney “miscarried in that the conduct of the proceedings by the primary judge gave rise to an ­apprehension of bias”.

Among the 16 examples of alleged judicial bias is Justice Wigney’s finding that the newspaper’s star witness, actress Eryn Jean Norvill, was an unreliable witness “prone to exaggeration”.

The Telegraph will also challenge Justice Wigney’s “award of excessive special damages”.

Wednesday 7.30pm: Third and final leaders’ debate locked in

The third and final leaders’ debate will go ahead on Wednesday night at the National Press Club after Labor agreed to a US presidential-style event, with just one moderator grilling Scott Morrison and Bill Shorten for an hour from 7.30pm, reports The Australian’s Rosie Lewis.

A row between the major parties had erupted over the format but Labor tonight ticked off on the press club’s president, ABC journalist SabraLane, being the sole moderator and questioner.

The leaders will have the opportunity to ask each other two questions and will use standing lecterns as they pursue the major issues of the election campaign.

The Liberal Party agreed to the presidential set-up earlier in the day but Labor had held out, wanting a panel of journalists asking questions.

The leaders will have the opportunity to ask each other two questions and will use standing lecterns as they pursue the major issues of the election campaign.

The Liberal Party agreed to the presidential set-up earlier in the day but Labor had held out, wanting a panel of journalists asking questions.

“This is to ensure fair representation of media organisations, including those who have not hosted a debate – such as Nine Television, Nine Newspapers, the Guardian and the ABC,” Labor’s campaign director Noah Carroll wrote in a letter to his Liberal counterpart Andrew Hirst today.

The ABC will be the host provider of the debate and give a clean live feed to all other media outlets.

“Alan has been on radio since 1985, breakfast since 1988,” he said. “He’s been number one almost all that time. His record of achievement is amazing. We as a station have won 117 victories. It all begins with a successful weekday breakfast show.”

Both Jones and Ray Hadley’s Melbourne equivalents, 3AW breakfast duo Ross and John and mornings presenter Neil Mitchell, have never had an ACMA complaint against them upheld this decade.

Entertainment

Billboard to launch new Global 100 chart covering 180 markets

US music trade magazine Billboard will launch The Global 100, which it is calling the first authoritative chart ranking top songs globally, based on worldwide streams and download sales.

Along with the new chart announced Monday in the US, Billboard will also organise a global summit and data conference in 2020, where international music industry players and data partners can review insights and key measures of success, as well as discuss the most pressing issues facing the business.

“The launch of The Global 100 marks a major step in the continuing evolution of the Billboard charts,” said Silvio Pietroluongo, senior VP charts and data products. “For decades, the US-based Billboard Hot 100 has been viewed throughout the world as the barometer of success in music. Now, Billboard is proud to present a companion chart that will measure the impact of songs on an international scale.”

The Global 100 will make its debut later this year driven by a Nielsen platform with expanded global measurement tools, covering activity in more than 180 territories around the world. The chart’s ranking will be based on a weighted formula incorporating streams on both subscription and ad-supported tiers of leading audio and video music services, plus download sales from top music retailers across the globe.

Nielsen Music chief product officer Simon Adams said: “Nielsen has served as the trusted data provider for Billboard Charts for more than 25 years in the US and Canada. Leveraging Nielsen’s new global music data expertise and proven methodologies, Billboard will now provide the music industry with a trusted view of chart-ranking artists globally.”

Sports Media

No final siren yet: Nine denies The Footy Show axing rumours

Channel 9 is digging in and denying that the new-look version of The Footy Show is destined for the axe in the immediate future, reports News Corp’s Footy Show correspondent Colin Vickery.

Frenzied rumours have been swirling across Melbourne in recent days that the program, with Anthony “Lehmo” Lehmann, Neroli Meadows, Dylan Alcott and Brendan Fevola is set to be dumped and soon.

The chatter comes after the show posted a dismal 53,000 viewers in Melbourne last week up against The Front Bar (278,000).

Last month, Meadows said she hoped viewers stuck with the show while the panel found their feet.

“I think in Australia people do love a pile-on. But you know what? The only thing they love more is a really good comeback story,” Meadows said.

“And if we become one of those, that’s awesome. If not, at least I gave it a crack.”